MARYLAND AT A GLANCE

STATE SYMBOLS

Maryland State Summer Theater - Olney Theatre

Olney Theatre Center for the Arts
2001 Olney-Sandy Spring Road (Route 108), Olney, MD 20832
(301) 924-4485; (301) 924-3400 (box office); fax: (301) 924-2654
web: www.olneytheatre.org/

Olney Theatre, Olney, Maryland. Photo by Eric Stocklin, courtesy of Olney Theatre Center for the Arts.

Located in Montgomery County (12 miles from Washington, DC; 35 miles from Baltimore), the Olney Theatre is a nonprofit professional theater producing an eight-show season. Some 118,000 patrons attend the theater annually.

The Olney Theatre was originally founded in 1938 as a summer playhouse. The National Academy of Stage Training began its inaugural summer course at the Olney Theatre on June 20, 1938. The Olney Theatre's first production, "The Lady Has a Heart," premiered on July 25, 1938.

In 1978, the Olney Theatre became the State Summer Theater of Maryland (Chapter 1003, Acts of 1978; Code General Provisions Article, sec. 7-319(b)).

Renovated in 1993, 450-seat Olney Theatre then extended to a year-round season.

The Olney Theatre's 2025-2026 season includes new works, reinterpretations of classics, and musical theater. Along with the shows, the Olney Theatre hosts several community projects. These include the free Summer Shakespeare Festival presented by the National Players, a classical touring group of young actors, as well as student matinees, apprenticeships, and workshops.

Maryland Arts
Maryland Museums
Maryland Government
Maryland Constitutional Offices & Agencies
Maryland Departments
Maryland Independent Agencies
Maryland Executive Commissions, Committees, Task Forces, & Advisory Boards
Maryland Universities & Colleges
Maryland Counties
Maryland Municipalities
Maryland at a Glance

Maryland Manual On-Line

Search the Manual
e-mail: mdmanual@maryland.gov

This web site is presented for reference purposes under the doctrine of fair use. When this material is used, in whole or in part, proper citation and credit must be attributed to the Maryland State Archives. PLEASE NOTE: The site may contain material from other sources which may be under copyright. Rights assessment, and full originating source citation, is the responsibility of the user.

Tell Us What You Think About the Maryland State Archives Website!

[ Archives' Home Page || Maryland Manual On-Line || Reference & Research
|| Search the Archives || Education & Outreach || Archives of Maryland Online ]
Governor General Assembly Judiciary Maryland.Gov

© Copyright March 09, 2026 Maryland State Archives